Originally Posted by Emo Education Thread

Emo is a derivative of the early 1980s hardcore punk movement. The earliest bands tried to deviate from the well-established and more violence-shifting hardcore sound, first evidenced in releases like Husker Du’s “Zen Arcade” in 1984, and later self-titled releases from Rites of Spring and Embrace (fronted by future Fugazi vocalist Guy Picciotto and ex-Minor Threat vocalist Ian Mackaye respectively). This upcoming breed of music was characterized by more intense and passionate vocal delivery, while retaining a more tranquilized hardcore punk quality. The summer of 1985 (termed the “Revolution Summer”) marked the emergence of many new bands like Nation of Ulysses, Moss Icon, Gray Matter, Shudder To Think, Ignition, and Dag Nasty. These bands tended to have a less aggressive, more melodic hardcore sound with more high-to-low sound transitions. Some of today’s well accepted emo qualities appeared here, with the introduction of more intricate pop-oriented guitar melodies and high pitch screaming. Some of these bands have been labeled “post-hardcore”, suggesting a derivation from the hardcore movement of the 1980s.